Not that exciting really and why so many pixels in a 1.6x crop sensor?
Mind you, answering my own question, so many photographers equate more pixels with better image quality that it's probably no more than a shrewd marketing ploy pandering to the "oooh, lots of pixels.. I must buy it as it will make me a really good photographer" brigade
Posted by Paul Gibbs on August 26, 2008 at 4:21 AM
Hmm would be more interesting if it was a 35mm ff sensor.
Posted by Sean Bolton on August 26, 2008 at 4:48 AM
The sRAW modes and 'pixel binning' feature is the most interesting feature in this camera.
You now have the option of high res 15 Megapixels or lower res 7.1 Megapixels RAW capture with the sRAW format. Good feature IMO.
The next generation 5D and 1D's are going to take this further with higher native resolution but high ISO, lower res sRAW modes. Looks like the next 5D will get 20Megapixels+ with sRAW modes of 10 and 5 megapixels.
I have looked at a few samples from the 50D and the high ISO performance does look good, so if they do this in a APS-C sensor then the next full frame sensors should be very impressive.
Only negative with the 50D is the AF is stil the same as the 40D, Canon still not keen to move the 1D AF down the product line.
It's just a cropped file after all and results in a smaller output file so processing is quicker but that's the only benefit that I can see (unless sRAW in the 50D is going to be different to that in the 1D III)
Posted by Sean Bolton on August 26, 2008 at 6:51 AM
sRAW combines 2 or 4 pixels from the sensor into a single pixel which helps reduce file size and improves high ISO performance.
I expect there are advantages of going pixel combining at the DIGIC IV level rather than later in post processing.
Also sRAW format is important for video capture which will arrive in DSLRs shortly. Press photography is increasing web and video orientated so I expect the next Gen 1D series to have video capture.
I agree in the 1Dmk3 an sRAW file size of 2.5 Megapixels is of limited use.
However as pixel density increases a 24 Megapixel full frame camera would have sRAW options of 12 and 6 megapixels, much more useful.
There is a rumour of a 50 Megapixel sensor in development which would give sRAW sizes of 24 and 12 megapixels, this is when the 1Ds and 1D lines will merge.
The sRAw feature would be useful for me, one camera for all applications.
Sean
Posted by Nigel Blake on August 26, 2008 at 1:01 PM
2 of them for the price of a 1D MkIII seems like a bargain to me!
Posted by Rob Ashton on August 26, 2008 at 4:07 PM
On paper this camera sounds very interesting. If the price drops to a realistic figure before too long it may be worth looking at.
Having said that.........I normally come over here to get away from the gearheads and FF fanatics on places like DPR. Lets try to keep this forum a place of contentment and tranquility by concentrating on nature and the art of the image. There is enough strife and rivalry over on other forums about whose gear is bigger or better.
Rob
Posted by Ian Andrews on August 27, 2008 at 2:41 AM
Would a video capability in a dSLR be of more use than a few extra pixels? If so, take a look at the new Nikon D90 which take Hi-Def video too!
Discussion
7 repliesNot that exciting really and why so many pixels in a 1.6x crop sensor?
Mind you, answering my own question, so many photographers equate more pixels with better image quality that it's probably no more than a shrewd marketing ploy pandering to the "oooh, lots of pixels.. I must buy it as it will make me a really good photographer" brigade
You now have the option of high res 15 Megapixels or lower res 7.1 Megapixels RAW capture with the sRAW format. Good feature IMO.
The next generation 5D and 1D's are going to take this further with higher native resolution but high ISO, lower res sRAW modes. Looks like the next 5D will get 20Megapixels+ with sRAW modes of 10 and 5 megapixels.
I have looked at a few samples from the 50D and the high ISO performance does look good, so if they do this in a APS-C sensor then the next full frame sensors should be very impressive.
Only negative with the 50D is the AF is stil the same as the 40D, Canon still not keen to move the 1D AF down the product line.
It does have face detection though!
Sean
It's just a cropped file after all and results in a smaller output file so processing is quicker but that's the only benefit that I can see (unless sRAW in the 50D is going to be different to that in the 1D III)
I expect there are advantages of going pixel combining at the DIGIC IV level rather than later in post processing.
Also sRAW format is important for video capture which will arrive in DSLRs shortly. Press photography is increasing web and video orientated so I expect the next Gen 1D series to have video capture.
I agree in the 1Dmk3 an sRAW file size of 2.5 Megapixels is of limited use.
However as pixel density increases a 24 Megapixel full frame camera would have sRAW options of 12 and 6 megapixels, much more useful.
There is a rumour of a 50 Megapixel sensor in development which would give sRAW sizes of 24 and 12 megapixels, this is when the 1Ds and 1D lines will merge.
The sRAw feature would be useful for me, one camera for all applications.
Sean
Having said that.........I normally come over here to get away from the gearheads and FF fanatics on places like DPR. Lets try to keep this forum a place of contentment and tranquility by concentrating on nature and the art of the image. There is enough strife and rivalry over on other forums about whose gear is bigger or better.
Rob
Ian